Borobudur Temple

Borobudur Temple – Borobudur is a Buddhist stupa in the Mahayana Culture and the biggest Buddhist temple in the world. Where is Borobudur? Discovered on the Indonesian island of Java, 40 km northwest of Yogyakarta, Borobudur was developed around 750 AD. The beautiful temple is a three-dimensional mandala (diagram of the universe) and a graph of Buddhist mentors. Also, as Capture Indonesia‘s latest article that included Borobudur Temple as one of the best tourist attractions in Indonesia.

Borobudur Temple with Aerial View

The people maybe call this place with the wrong name, like Borobodur or Borobudor but the right name for this place is Borobudur. Located on the island of Java, the great Borobudur Temple is the world’s most magnificent Buddhist monument, an ancient site extensively considered to be among the world’s seven wonders. The temple sits majestically on a hilltop neglecting rich green fields and distant hills.

Integrated in the 9th century during the reign of the Syailendra dynasty, the temple’s style in Gupta architecture shows India’s impact on the area, yet there suffice indigenous scenes and elements incorporated to make Borobudur uniquely Indonesian. Below we will give you Borobudur information, including a little Borobudur description for you that want to travel to Borobudur Tourism.

Borobudur is included as places of interest in Yogyakarta. It covers a large location, determining 123 x 123 meters. The monument is a marvel of design, embellished with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha sculptures. The structure and stonework of this temple have no equivalent.

And it was built without utilizing any cement or mortar! The structure is like a set of large interlocking Lego blocks held together without any glue. The temple has remained stable even through 10 centuries of the overlook. It was found in 1815, occupied under volcanic ash.

In these 1970’s the Indonesian Government and UNESCO served synchronically to bring back Borobudur to its previous Majesty The repair took eight years to finish, and today Borobudur is among Indonesia and the world’s most valuable treasures. Borobudur is the biggest temple in Indonesia and the largest Buddhist temple in the world.

The History of Borobudur Temple

Borobudur Temple History – There is no written record of who constructed Borobudur Temple or of its intended function. The building and construction time has been approximated by comparison in between sculpted reliefs on the temple’s concealed foot and the inscriptions typically utilized in royal charters throughout the eight and ninth centuries.

Borobudur has likely established around 750 AD. This corresponded to the peak of the Sailendra dynasty in central Java (760 – 830 AD) when it was under the impact of the Srivijayan Empire. The building and construction have been approximated to have taken 75 years and been completed during the reign of Samaratungga in 825.

For centuries, Borobudur lay concealed under layers of ashes. The reasons behind the desertion of this great monolith still stay a secret. Some scholars think that starvation triggered by an eruption of Mount Merapi forced the inhabitants of Central Java to leave their lands behind searching for a brand-new place to live.

When individuals when again occupied this location, the magnificence of Borobudur was buried by ash from Mount Merapi. Borobudur was uncovered in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, who throughout his visit in Semarang, received a report showing the discovery of a hill loaded with lots of sculpted stones.

The hill was believed by the local occupants to be the site of an ancient monolith called budur. Raffles then commissioned a group led by Cornelius to examine the hill.

Borobudur with Aerial Shoot

Borobudur listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site

It was in 1835 that the site was cleared. Some efforts were made to bring back and preserve the large monument ever since. Unfortunately, in 1896 the Dutch colonial, the federal government handed out eight containers of Borobudur stones, containing reliefs, statues, stairs, and gates, as instants for the King of Siam who was checking out Indonesia.

A remediation program was undertaken in between 1973 and 1984 returned much of the compound to its previous splendor, and the site has considering that ended up being a destination of Buddhist expedition.

On January 21, 1985, the temple suffered small damage due to a bomb attack. In 1991, Borobudur was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

How to get to Borobudur Temple?

Getting to Borobudur Temple – There are some flights a day to Yogyakarta from both Jakarta and Bali. Flight time is about one hour for both. Taking a trip overland from Bali is possible by minibus, but might use up to 24 hours on hectic roads.

From Jakarta to Borobudur Temple, there are numerous trains a day, costing about $15 for air-conditioned first class, which can take in between 7 and 10 hours.

Huge cities with worldwide flights close to Borobudur are Semarang and Yogyakarta. Each city serves flights from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, but Yogyakarta is closer to Borobudur (40 km) than Semarang (90 km). Another city close by Borobudur is Magelang (17 km) which features a direct bus route to Borobudur.

Considerable railway hub also only present in Yogyakarta and Semarang. Semarang also functions a large port (Tanjung Mas) serving worldwide cruise ships.

From Yogyakarta to Borobudur

Via Bus: From Yogyakarta downtown, you have to think about a Trans Jogja bus to Jombor bus station. Appear up for bus line 2A & 2B to Jombor. From Jombor bus station, reflect on a local bus to Borobudur.

From the Borobudur Terminal, you can continue to the Temple on foot or ride pedicab or Indonesian horse carriage. Be advised that the last return bus to Yogyakarta is at 15.00. You can still go back to Yogya from Magelang Bus Station where hourly buses to Yogyakarta available until night.

There is a direct bus available from Adisutjipto Airport to Borobudur or nearby city Magelang. Appear up for “DAMRI” buses.

Via Private Vehicle: The route to Borobudur from Yogyakarta is quite straightforward. First, you will need to go through Jalan Magelang. The complete path is Jogja > Magelang > Sleman > Tempel > Salam > Muntilan > Palbapang > Mendut > Borobudur Parking lot. The distance is about 45 km. The easy way is provided by taxi with a fixed rate of around IDR 300.000.

From Semarang to Borobudur Temple

Via Bus: Semarang attributes a bus rapid transit that can think about you to the bus station. From Semarang, you have to reflect on an intercity bus bound to Jogja or Magelang. You can stop at Magelang bus station.

From Magelang, you can continue with local bus to Borobudur bus station. Semarang also has several shuttle services to Jogja or Magelang. The Journey from Semarang to Borobudur will think about 3.5 hours.

What Do You See in Borobudur Temple?

The Things You can See in Borobudur – Seen from above, Borobudur takes the form of a massive mandala, symbolically depicting the course of the bodhisattva of samsara to nirvana, through the literature of Sudhana defined in the Gandavyuha Sutra, a part of the Avatamsaka Sutra.

In total, this enormous monolith contains over 2 million stone blocks. Some scholars believe that this huge monolith is an enormous textbook of Buddhism to assist individuals to achieve enlightenment.

To read this Buddhist book in stone requires a walk of more than 2 miles. The walls of the galleries are decorated with remarkable reliefs showing the life of Buddha Shakyamuni and the concepts of his mentor.

Borobudur Temple Compounds

Borobudur Temple shows three different life levels. Representing the existence of dark space, Borobudur correctly shows the Buddhist cosmology, which divides the universe into three intermingled different levels. The three tiers are Kamadhatu (the world of desire), Ruphadatu (the world of types), and Arupadhatu (the world of formlessness).

The secret base of Borobudur was initially the very first level, which contains the gallery of Kamadhatu level. It is believed that throughout building and construction Borobudur experienced a landfall that threatened the whole structure.

To avoid the entire monument from collapsing, the Kamadhatu level was closed and made into a brand-new base that holds Borobudur stable. This level of Kamadhatu creates the world of enthusiasm and the inescapable laws of karma.

The very first 117 panels show various actions resulting in one and the very same outcome, while the other staying 43 panels show the lots of consequences that follow one only impact. A minimum of 160 relief panels was formed around this level, based upon the composition of Karmavibhangga. What is left of these can be viewed in the Southeast corner of this level?

The reliefs of the Rupadhatu level show the stories based upon the manuscripts of:

Lalitavistara

Jataka-Avadana

Gandavyuha

Borobudur Stupa

The stories of Lalitavistara

The Lalitavistara reliefs, consisting of 120 panels, inform us about the life of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha. It begins with the noble descent of Buddha from the Tushita heaven. Born as Prince Siddhartha, Buddha’s youth was separated from the outdoors world’s anguish.

Inadvertently witnessing the torment of illness, decrepitude, and death, young Prince Siddharta decided to leave the worldly life and starting his search of liberty from suffering.

Siddhartha’s long and painful search lastly led him to the greatest level of knowledge and made him Buddha, the Enlightened One. This story finishes with Buddha’s sermon in the Deer Park near Benares.

The stories of Jataka-Avadana

The Jataka is a bunch of stories about Buddha’s previous reincarnation, concatenations, and virtues. According to the Jataka, Buddha was born 504 moments before continuing born as Prince Siddharta, handling the forms of God, kings, princes, found out guys, burglars, servants, and a bettor.

A lot of times he was born through animals such as lion, deer, monkey, swan, a huge turtle, quail, horse, bird and many others. But the Boddhisatva was identified from all other kings, servants, or animals among whom he lived. The Boddhisatva is always exceptional and better than those around him.

As to the relief of Avadana, the main figure is not the Buddha himself. All the righteous deeds visualized in this part are attributed to other legendary characters. The stories are assembled in Dvijavadana (Glorious Heavenly Acts) and the Avadana Sataka (The Hundred Avadana). The very first 20 frames in the lower series of stories on the first gallery depict the Sudhanakumaravana.

The stories of Gandavyuha

The series of reliefs including the wall of the 2nd gallery is devoted to Sudhana’s tireless wandering during his look for the highest knowledge. The story is continued on the walls and balustrades of the 3rd and 4th galleries.

The majority of the 460 panels depict the scenes based on the Mahayana Gandavyuha, while the concluding scenes are stemmed from the text of Badracari. On the last three circular uppermost balconies, 72 stupas circle the huge main stupa that crowns the top of the temple.

The circular kind represents the eternity without beginning and end, a superlative, relaxing, and pure state of the chaotic world. There are no changes on the three circular balconies.

However, the largest main stupas on the upper levels contain a (primarily) life-sized statue of the Buddha kneeling, although some these figures are missing out on or harmed. There are likewise numerous alcoves along the lower levels which consist of similar characters. However, numerous of these are missing out on or harmed as well.

About Borobudur Temple

Borobudur Map Location

Borobudur Entry Fee

One Time Ticket:10 years old and older: USD 25 – 3 to 10 years old: USD 15